Supermarket Iceland has come under fire today for failing to meet its commitment to go cage-free for hens by the end of the year, earning it the title of the UK’s worst supermarket in a new report released by animal protection charity The Humane League UK (THL UK).
The report ranks UK supermarkets based on their progress towards sourcing only cage-free eggs by 2025. While some supermarkets like Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, M&S, and the Co-op have already gone cage-free, others are lagging behind. Asda has been flagged as a supermarket of concern due to gaps in its reporting, while Lidl, Tesco, Morrisons, and Aldi are on track to meet their commitments despite still selling eggs from caged hens.
Claire Williams, campaigns manager at The Humane League UK, expressed disappointment in Iceland’s lack of progress, stating that the supermarket sourced more eggs from caged hens last year than in any previous year. She emphasized the importance of ending the cruel practice of keeping hens in cages and urged Iceland to take immediate action to meet the 2025 deadline.
According to Iceland’s own data, the supermarket has regressed in its efforts to become cage-free, with 71% of the eggs sold in 2023-2024 coming from caged hens, a 6% increase from the previous year. Additionally, Iceland has only committed to sourcing whole eggs from cage-free hens, neglecting ingredient eggs, which sets it apart from other supermarkets and could impact hundreds of thousands of hens.
Despite making a promise in 2016 to prioritize eggs from non-caged hens, Iceland has failed to fulfill its commitment, leaving millions of hens trapped in ‘enriched’ cages that severely impact their wellbeing. These cages prevent hens from engaging in natural behaviors like dust-bathing, perching, and wing-flapping, leading to increased stress and weaker bones.
Recent research has shown that 94% of the UK public opposes the use of cages for laying hens, highlighting the strong public sentiment against this inhumane practice. While Iceland has been approached for comment, Asda has stated that it is working towards transitioning all own-label shell eggs and ingredient eggs to cage-free by 2025.
In conclusion, it is clear that Iceland must urgently address its failure to go cage-free for hens and prioritize the welfare of these animals. The public outcry against the use of cages for laying hens is a powerful reminder that supermarkets have a moral responsibility to ensure the humane treatment of animals in their supply chains.
